East Greenville man jailed for assaulting pregnant girlfriend

COURTHOUSE — The “vicious” assault of his pregnant girlfriend has ended with a trip to jail for an East Greenville man.

Steven Alan Sponsler, 30, of the 500 block of Third Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 11 ½ to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the June 2012 domestic incident at his home during which he allegedly choked and punched the pregnant woman while she was holding her 21-month-old son.

President Judge William J. Furber Jr., who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Sponsler to complete two years’ probation after he’s paroled from jail and to complete domestic violence counseling and parenting classes.

Sponsler, who was represented by defense lawyer Ward Cotton, is prohibited from having contact with the victim while he is under court supervision.

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Assistant District Attorney Alec O’Neill sought a lengthy jail term against Sponsler.

“This is a case of domestic violence. To attack a pregnant woman is vicious because there could be risks to the unborn child as well as to the mother,” O’Neill argued. “On top of that one of her other children was already in her arms. She was terrified that day.”

An investigation of Sponsler began about 5 p.m. June 21 when a relative of the victim called police to report that Sponsler struck the victim at the East Greenville residence. Police met the victim, who was 18 weeks pregnant, and her relative at the intersection of State Street and Third Street in East Greenville, according to court papers.

The victim told police that while she was holding her 21-month-old son in her arms Sponsler “proceeded to put his hands around her neck and squeeze,” according to the arrest affidavit filed by Upper Perk Police Officer James McVeigh.

“(The victim) advised that Sponsler wanted their biological child to remain at his residence and that is the main reason he became violent,” McVeigh wrote in the criminal complaint. “(The victim) advised that while Sponsler had his arms around her neck and was squeezing, she and (the child) fell onto the living room floor.”

The victim told police that when she was able to get back to her feet with her child Sponsler proceeded to physically remove the child from her grasp, according to the arrest affidavit.

“(The victim) advised that while Sponsler was holding (the child) he proceeded to punch her on the back of her head with his right fist,” McVeigh alleged, adding a bump was evident on the woman’s head.

The victim was eventually able to get away from Sponsler, police said.

“As a result of being strangled by Sponsler, (the victim) sustained injuries to her neck,” McVeigh alleged.

With the simple assault charge, prosecutors alleged Sponsler attempted to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to the woman.